As the three phase Bihar assembly election has been announced and RJD is natural principal challenger to the Nitish Kumar led JD (U)-BJP ruling combine; the BJP has intensified attack on RJD boss Lalu Prasad and Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren.
Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Nath Shahdeo who addressed a press conference on Sunday afternoon at the party headquarters alleged that the Soren government is extending illegal favour to RJD president and former Bihar chief minister to run the party even if Lalu Prasad.
Shahdeo said that Lalu Prasad, convicted in a series of fodder scam cases, is lodged at Kelly’s bungalow for his treatment.
“Kelly bungalow has become the central election office of the RJD. It seems that the chief minister is giving him a return gift. Politicians are continuously meeting him and this is going on. But these politicians claim that this was a courtesy meeting. IG (Jail) of Jharkhand Police has recently given a baseless statement that jail manual can’t be effective upon Kelly bungalow. IG (Jail) has claimed that they handed over Lalu Prasad to Ranchi district administration hence the jail manual is not operational on Kelly bungalow,” said Shahdeo.
Shahdeo reminded that on 24 August 2018 when the Jharkhand High Court had permitted his treatment.
“The court had said that Lalu Prasad’s treatment will be done at RIMS under custody. The Jail Act 1894 clearly says that even the place where convicts are taken for small duration will be treated as jail and the rules of jail manual will remain effective,” he said.
Shahdeo said that written permission of the jail superintendent is necessary to meet people in judicial custody. But in case of Lalu Prasad rule is not followed. RJD is part of the Hemant Soren led government in Jharkhand and the BJP accused chief minister and his government is treating him like a guest.